What is Church? or what is a church?
These seem like pointless questions, but they are necessary questions. When you think of what is at stake in how they are answered, they are questions they have eternal consequences.
The first obvious answer is church is what takes place on Sunday morning at a specific location. (Obviously the location must include a steeple, baptistery, and pulpit.)
The second obvious answer is that the church is a geographic location that includes a building called the “church”. This explains how someone is asked, “Where do you go to church?” The answer often includes the pointing of a finger in a certain direction (the stated geographic location) and followed with the specific name of the the church, which happens to be located at stated geographic location. Right?!! It is simple!
Here is the problem with these answers and the mindset and philosophy that goes with them. Jesus didn’t die for a building, a steeple, a pulpit, or a baptistery! According to scripture, Jesus died for souls of individuals created in His image! Jesus didn’t die for a piece of property or an address or even a Post Office Box, Jesus died for people! Human Beings!
The third answer that often comes up when people discuss “church”. It is what happens on Sunday morning (or sometimes on Saturday night), Sunday night or Wednesday night. Church is a “service” or “ceremony” that takes place at a scheduled time. Jesus didn’t die and give His life for a “service” or a “ceremony”, He gave his life for individuals that profess Him as Lord!
The Church is people!
I have often told our people at Church at the Grove, when someone asks where your church is, tell them that some of them are at work, some of them are at home, some of them are at school, and some of them are out at other places. The church is people!
Church is not what takes place on Sunday mornings, it is not a building, it is not a piece of property, it is not a ceremony or a service. The church is people, the body of Christ. Church happens when we walk out the door of our house, when we go to school, when we go to work and wherever we are. Church happens as we live life. Christ came to dwell among his people, and when He left He sent the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) to live in those people that made up His new community and wherever those people go, Christ continues to dwell among people!
Simply put, people are the church and Christ in them takes the church to people that need Christ.
We live in a dangerous time where people are looking for the “right” church, when they should be looking for where they can “be” the church to people!
Instead of looking for a church with the right music, the right children’s ministry, the right programs for my family, why not prayerfully seek God’s leadership for where you and your family can join forces with a community carrying out God’s mission in this world.
Pastor Steven Furtick in Charlotte, North Carolina states, “The church is a battleship, not a cruise ship.Pastors and leaders are generals to equip you for battle in the trenches, not cruise directors to make your stay more enjoyable on the Lido deck.”
Be the church in your neighborhood this week!
